title: Native Prey and Invasive Predator Patterns of Foraging Activity: The Case of the Yellow-Legged Hornet Predation at European Honeybee Hives.
abstract: Contrary to native predators, which have co-evolved with their prey, alien predators often benefit from native prey naïveté. Vespa velutina, a honeybee predator originating from Eastern China, was introduced into France just before 2004. The present study, based on video recordings of two beehives at an early stage of the invasion process, intends to analyse the alien hornet hunting behaviour on the native prey, Apis mellifera, and to understand the interaction between the activity of the predator and the prey during the day and the season. Chasing hornets spent most of their time hovering facing the hive, to catch flying honeybees returning to the hive. The predation pressure increased during the season confirming previous study based on predator trapping. The number of honeybee captures showed a maximum peak for an intermediate number of V. velutina, unrelated to honeybee activity, suggesting the occurrence of competition between hornets. The number of honeybees caught increased during midday hours while the number of hornets did not vary, suggesting an increase in their efficacy. These results suggest that the impact of V. velutina on honeybees is limited by its own biology and behaviour and did not match the pattern of activity of its prey. Also, it could have been advantageous during the invasion, limiting resource depletion and thus favouring colonisation. This lack of synchronization may also be beneficial for honeybee colonies by giving them an opportunity to increase their activity when the hornets are less effective.
authors.affiliation: UMR 1065 Santé et Agroécologie du Vignoble, INRA, F-33883 Villenave d'Ornon, France ; Université de Bordeaux, ISVV, UMR 1065 Santé et Agroécologie du Vignoble, Bordeaux Sciences Agro, Villenave d'Ornon, France.
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Monceau
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arca
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leprêtre
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mougel
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bonnard
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Silvain
authors.forename: Nevile
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thiéry
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000502:physiology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D058865:Introduced Species; D011235:Predatory Behavior; D012621:Seasons; D014863:Wasps / Q000502:physiology*